Article transfer and retainer



April 27, 1954 P. c. BAUER ARTICLE TRANSFER AND RETAINER 2 Sheefs-Sheet1 Filed Oct. 12, 1950 H. M m. EI-WF \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\L wwullllmi v MN MN m R u R? NA .H TB MN N. R EC 0 w +w I |U A W m April 27,1954 P. c. BAUER ARTICLE TRANSFER AND" RETAINER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FiledOct. 12, 1950 '.I1ZQ

INVENTOR PAUL c. BAUER ATTORNEYS 2 Patented Apr. 27, 1954 ARTICLETRANSFER AND RETAINER Paul C. Bauer, Davenport, Iowa, assignor, by mesneassignments, to American Machine &

New York; N. Y., a corpo- Foundry Company,

ration of New Jersey Application October 12, 1950, Serial No. 189,847

l This inventionrelates to article retainers for wrapping machineelevators and particularly for elevators 0f the swinging type in whichthe article being wrapped is delivered onto the elevator platform whilethe platform is in an inclined position, the retainer. serving to holdthe article on the elevator during the upward travel of the elevator. I,

The retainer of the present invention is mounted beneath the platform ofthe elevator and is movable from a position entirely beneath theelevator platform to a position in which retaining fingers project abovethe top of the platform to hold an article that has been delivered ontothe platform.

In elevators of the type in which the leading end of awrapper web isclamped to the article to be wrapped as the article is delivered to theelevator and is pulled over the top of the article while the elevator.moves upwardly, there may be attimes considerable pull on the articletend-v ing to move the same on the elevator. The re-- 7 Claims..(o1.'19s 27) tainer of the present invention serves to firmly hold thearticle'on the elevator until the elevator reaches its dischargeposition and is then automatically retracted to. permit the article tobe discharged from theelevator.

In wrapping machine inwhich the web mechanism is controlled by tensionon the.

feed web,

the operation of the wrapping mechanism is not 3 afiected by a skip inthe article feed and any article delivered to the wrapping mechanism isWrapped and discharged from the machine. In any cycle in which anarticle is not fed to the elevator, the empty elevator is raised andlowcred past the leadingend of the wrapper Web.

with its forward edge in close .proximity to the web,.and in order .toavoiddisplaceme'nt. of or damage to the web,the retainer of .the presentinvention is automatically locked in its retracted position duringmovements of the elevator when empty.

Reference should be had to the accompanyingdrawings forming apart ofthisspecification in which: v I

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of an elevator provided with the retainer ofthe present invention, the elevator being shown in full lines in anintermediate position with the retainer in article holding position, thereceiving and dischargingpositions of the elevator being shown in dottedlines.

follower on the elevator in its forward retainer locking position. v

Fig. 3 is a section taken on the line indicated at 3-3 in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary side elevation of the elevator in its dischargeposition.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary plan view of the elevator.

The device of the present invention is shown applied to a wrappingmachine provided with an endless article feed conveyor provided withflights I attached to sprocket chains 2 that push the articlesto bewrapped along a bed 3. The feed conveyor delivers to a verticallyswinging elevator which moves from a receiving position in alinementwith the bed 3 to an upper dis-- charging positionwhere the article isdelivered from the elevator to-the folding and sealing channel of thewrapping machine.

The elevator is provided with a platform 4 that is attached to swingingarms 5 that are oscillated by means of camactuated links 6 to move fromthe dotted line position in alinement with the bed 3 to the upperposition-shown in dotted lines in Fig. '1 where the article isdischarged, sufiicient dwell being provided in the receiving anddischarge positions to permit delivery of the articles to the elevatorand discharge of the article therefrom. The feed conveyor isintermittently operated and stops with the flight in the position shownin Fig. 1 while the elevator is moved upwardly past the flight.-

8 attached thereto which slides in a guide 9 mounted on the elevatorplatform and in .order to-retain the follower in the position to whichis has been moved, an adjustable friction member 1l0 carried by theguide 9 exerts sufiicient resistance to movement of the follower to holdthe follower to the position to which it is moved when the article isdelivered to and discharged from the elevator platform.

In its discharge position the elevator platform is alined with the topof a paper guide roller iiover which the article is pushed into thefolding and sealing channel of the wrapping machine (not shown). Therollers l2-mounted on-the underside of the platform 4 engage with theroller H in the discharge position of the elevator and the wrapper webpasses between the rollers II and I2 during movement of the article fromthe elevator. In the discharge of the article from the elevator, thefollower l is advanced toward the front edge of the platform as thearticle is pushed off the platform i and over the roller H. The follower1 remains in a position: adjacent the forward edge of the platform 4while the; elevator returns to article-receiving position so that thepaper web is clamped between the follower l and the next article fed tothe elevator.

Prior to or during the discharge. of the article" from the elevator thewrapper web is severed below the rollers H and l2'by, meansoffa'suitable knife which cooperates with a shear bar l3 attached to theunderside of the elevator and underlying the rollers l2.

Centrally or the elevator platform b'etweenthe rollers I2 there ismounted a retractable article retainer it having a portion that ismovable to a position above the forward edge of th elevator platform iin front of arr-article 'on'the'platform to hold the article againstdisplacement during upward movement of? the elevator. The retainer movesforwardlyand rearwardly through a slot I5" forwardly extending arms l6provided with up wardl'y extending article retaining fingers I! whichare positioned in front of an article on the platform'toretainit'on'theelevator during upward movement'of the elevator; The retainer H isprovided with axially'alined'trunnions 18 that slide in channels is inbrackets zfl'attached to the under side of the elevator platform 41 Theretainer- M has a centrally disposed rearwardly projecting arm2*l'that'is operably' connected to a transverse rock"shaftffmounted onbrackets 23 and 24- attachedtothe under side of the platform t. The arm2l" is pivotally connected to the upper end of an arm 25 that is mounted'for' turning movementon the rock shaft 22. At the end oftheshaft 22"adjacent the front of the machine the shaft has a crank arm 26 that isconnected to a lever 21 that is pi'votally supported intermediate itsends on: the

in the shear bar I3" andhas spaced lower end 'of a link 28thatis'pivoted at it's upper I end to a cross rod 29*extending between theelevator arms 5 The -link 2'8 is connected tothelever 21 'by' a'pivot 30and the free end of the lever 21-"carries a-roller 31 that is engagedwhile the-elevator" is-irr it's lowermost article receiving position bya segmentcam 32' attached to a cam shatt'tito move the retainer to itsarticle holding position a-f-ter'a-ir articlehas been transferred bythe-elevator: The pivot-30" carries a roller 34 that enga'geswitha tripplate 35*(see'Figs: 4 and 5)" attached totlre machine frame andpositioned to engage witlrthe'rollr' 34- as the elevator approaches itsuppermostposition.

The engagement of thesegment" cam 32 withth roller 3| whenthe-elevatoris inali'nement with the feed conveyor bed'3 causes thearmiito be rocked forwardly; moving the trunnions: lilforwardlyinthe guidechannelsfi 9 to advance the retainer M to position" theretaining fingersll beyond theforward endof-theelevator plat form 4 and to rock theforward end ofthe'retainer i4 upwardly to-move the fingers II intoretaining position in'front'of' thearticle that-has been pushed onto theelevatorbya conveyor-flight I. When thle'roller 34' strikes the'trip'plate fli the arm 21 isswung rearwardly; rocking the retaining' fingersdownwardly: to a position: below the elevator platform and.slidingiithe'rttunnions: l8 rearwardlyin. the channels: [9: to bringthe' retainer entirely beneaththe*elevatorxplatform;

across the space fingers.

v onto the, elevator..

It is desirable that the retraction of the retaining fingers be positivein order to insure release of the article in th uppermost position ofthe elevator. It is also desirable that the mechanism moving theretaining fingers into their retainingposition be yieldableso thatithemechanism will not be damagedxif the. movement of the retaining fingersto locking position is impeded, for example, by an improper adjustmentof the elevator with respect to the feed conveyor.

Thearm- 2 5 is actuatedvby a disk 36 fixed to the rock shaft 22.. Thedisk has a laterally projectingjpintl which projects in front of the arm25Jto. provide positive actuation of the arm in rearward; direction toretract the retaining The supporting bracket 23 carries a spring'pressedball 'detent 38 that is engageable with; either one of two angularlyspaced recesses 39 and 40 in the adjacent face of the disk 36. Thedetent 38 engagesin the recess 39 whenthe retainer is in articleengaging position andjwith the, recess 41! when the retainer'i's. inretracted position. The. detent38 and recesses 39 and. 4.0 provide;yieldable. locking means" for holding the retainer in adjusted?positions during vertical movements of the elevator while the rollers 3|and 34 are out ofengagementwith the segment cam 32 and trip plate 35.

Th arm 25- carries 'a spring pressed ball detent 11 that is engageableina recess" 42 in'th'e disk 33 to normally cause, the" arm 25to move forwardl'y' with the disk 36 to movetheretainer to articleenga'gingposition; If, however; there is resistance to movement ofthe'retaineritoarticle engaging position such as might'be caused b'y engagementof thefingers ll" with'the conveyor'fiight; the'detent 41 would'yield'. andallow the disk to move independently of thearm 25;

It is desirablethat the retainer be'positively locked in. its retracted"position during the-:downward movement of the elevator so" that it willbe impossible for the retaining-fingers. to; beaccidentally" moved" to aposition where they would. block" the entry of'arr articleyonto'theconveyor platform. To this end the; arm 25 is provided with arearwardlyextending projection 43' which is substantially parallel withthe elevat'orplatform when the-retainer I' l" isretracted;

The" guide bar'8 ofthe article clampi'ngfollower 1" has a downwardlyprojecting stop member" 4 4" attached" to theun'dersid thereof'lthat hasa forwardlyprojecting flange 45' that is moved to" a" position in whichit directly overlies theprojectibn: 43' of the'leverliwhen thefollower-is in itsforward" position. Upon dischargeofthe article fromthe; elevatorv onto the discharge runwam; the follower: 1' is moved? toits forward? position and? remains this position" untiFit-is again:moved'rearwardly; by an article" pushed" onto-the elevator" platform:The

member" M provides a positive" lock which prevents actuation ofvtheretainer during the lowering movement of' the. elevator and until thefollower ismovedrearwardl'y by an article pushed. The flange. 45provides an elongated; stop which is-effective for various posi tions ofthefollower 1 adjacent-thereceiving edge of. the. elevator platform:sothat it is not neces-- sary thatthe follower. be always stopped in thesameposa'tioin If there should be a skip in the delivery of arti: cles.by the feed; conveyor; to the: elevator, the follower-.1 will remaininitsforwardposition looking, the retainer against movement and actuation of the lever 21 by the cam 32 -will cause the detent 4| to slip,thereby permitting the actuation of the lever 21 by the cam withoutcausin actuation of the retainer. In the retracted p sition of theretainer, the fingers I! are beneath the elevator platform and to therear of the forward edge of the platform where they cannot engage withthe leading end wrapping paper which hangs in front of the'upwardlymoving elevator Whenever there is a skip in the feed of articles to theelevator.

It is to be understood that variations and I modifications of thespecific devices herein shown I and described for purposes ofillustration may be made without departing from the spirit of theinvention.

What I claim is: 1. In a wrapping machine a retracted position belowsaid platform and rearwardly of the forward edge thereof to an} articleretainin position in which it projects, above the forward edge of saidplatform, means including a lever on said elevator for shifting saidretainer, means for locking said retainer in retracted position, ayieldable connection between said lever and said retainer to permitactuation of the lever with the said retainer locked against movement,and means operating in timed relation to movements of the elevator foractuating said lever.

2. In a wrapping machine an elevator having an article receivingplatform, an article retainer mounted on said elevator for movement froma retracted position below said platform and rearwardly of the forwardedge thereof to an article retaining position in which it projects abovethe forward edge of said platform, means including a lever on saidelevator for shifting said 'retainer, a, positive actuatin connectionbetween said lever and said retainer for retracting said retainer uponmovement of the lever in one direction, a yieldable connection betweensaid lever and retainer for moving said retainer to article retainingposition upon movement of the lever in the opposite direction, meansoperating in timed relation with respect to movements of said elevatorfor actuating said lever, and means for locking said retainer inretracted position.

3. In a, wrapping machine, an elevator having an article receivingplatform and mounted to swing vertically about a horizontal axisdisposed rearwardly of the platform from a lower forwardly anddownwardly inclined receiving position to an upper discharging position,an article retainer mounted on said elevator for movement across theforward edge of said platform from a retracted position below theforward edge of the platform to an article retaining position above theforward edge of the platform, a rotary, cam having a raised peripheralportion, a stationary trip member, a lever mounted on said elevatorforbodily movement therewith from a lower position in which it is disposedin the path of said raised portion of th cam to an upper position clearof said cam where it is engaged by said trip member, means for actuatingsaid elevator and said cam in timed relation to actuatesaid lever whilethe said elevator is in its lower Dosition, means connecting said leverto saidretainer to shift said retainer to article retaining position.upon actuation of the lever by sai cam and to shift said retainer toretracted position upon engagement of said tri member with'said lever,and means for holding said retainer in adan elevator having, an articlereceivingplatform, an article retainer mounted on said elevator formovement from;

ju'sted positions durin intervals when said lever is disengaged fromboth the cam and the trip member.

4. In a wrapping machine, an elevator having an article receivingplatform and movable from an article receiving position to an articledischarging position, an article retainer mounted on said elevator formovement from a retracted position below the forward edge of saidplatform to an article retaining position in which itprojects above saidforward edge, a retainer actuating member mounted on said elevator,means connecting said actuatin member to said retainer to shift theretainer to its article retaining position upon movement of saidactuator in one direction and to its retracted position upon movement ofthe actuator in the opposite direction, said connecting means beingyieldable to permit movement of said actuator relative to said retainer,means timed with respect to movements of the elevator for operating saidactuator, means for locking said retainer in retracted position, meansfor moving an article onto said elevator platform, and means actuated byan article movin onto said platform for releasing said locking means.

5. In a wrapping machine, an elevator having an article receivingplatform and movable from an article receiving position to an articledischarging position, an article retainer mounted on said elevator formovement from a retracted position below the forward edge of saidplatform to an article retaining position in which it projects abovesaid forward edge, a retainer actuating member mounted on said elevator,means connecting said actuating member to said retainer to shift theretainer to its article retaining position upon movement of saidactuator in one direction and to its retracted position upon movement ofthe actuator in the opposite direction, said connecting means beingyieldable to permit movement of said actuator relative to said retainer,means timed with respect to movements of the elevator for operating saidactuator, means for locking said retainer in retracted position, meansfor moving an article onto said elevator platform, a follower slidablymounted on the elevator for movement rearwardly with an article as it ismoved onto the elevator and forwardly with an article as it is moved offthe elevator, and means controlled by the follower for locking saidretainer in retracted position when the follower is in its forwardposition.

6. In a wrapping machine, an elevator having an article receivingplatform and mounted to swing vertically about an axis disposedrearwardly'of said platform from a lower forwardly and downwardlyinclined article receiving position to an upper article dischargingposition, an article retainer mounted on said elevator for movementacross the forward edge of said platform from a retracted position belowthe forward edge of the platform to an article retaining position abovethe forward edge of the platform, means for feeding articles onto saidelevator platform, a movable locking member for holding said retainer inretracted position, a movable member in the path of an article beingmoved onto the elevator and connected to said locking member to move thesame out of retainer locking position upon delivery of an article tosaid elevator, a retainer actuating member on said elevator, means timedwith respect to movements of the elevator for imparting movements tosaid actuating member, a movement transagave-e92 mittin'g connectionbetween said retainer actuating: member and said retainer; said;connection being yieldable to permit said timedmove ments of saidactuating member while: the retainer is locked in retracted position.

'7'. In a wrapping machine, an elevator having,- a platform and movablefrom an article receiving position to an article discharging: position,

an article retainer having laterally spaced alw ticle retaining fingersat its forward end, said. retainer being'mounted on the elevator beneathsaid! platform for bodily movements forwardly and. rearwardly and forvertical rocking movements, actuating means for moving said actuatorforwardl and rocking the same to move the retaining. fingers across theforward edge of: said platform to. article retaining position" and forrocking the forward end of said actuator downwardly to move saidretaining fingers toa position below said platform and moving saidretainer rearwardly to a retracted position where livery.ofkthearticleto the elevator, and means for moving said. retainer to itsretracted position to permit discharge of an article from the elevaton.

References Cited in the file of thispatent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 1,626,379 Armstrong Apr. 26, 1927 138513295" Schmitt Mar. 29',1932 1",8'88g797 Gladeck Nov. 22, 1932 2170,312 Tiithill Aug. 22, 1939 2,192,503 Newman Mar. 5, 1940 25332316 Hexter Oct. 19, 1943'

